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3 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. P. LA BORDE. MACHINE FOR, SPLITTING SHOE SOLBS. No. 394,277. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2-.

(No Model.)

J. P. LA BORDE.

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHOE SOLES. No. 394,277. Patented Dec. 11 1888.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

J. F. LA BORDE.

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHOE SOLES. N0. 394,27'7. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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N PETERS, PhMo-Ulhogmpller. Wflbhmslon, Dv C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JAMES F. LA BORDE, OF ROCHESTER, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MORTIMER MCMANNIS, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHOE-SOLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,277, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed January 25, 1888. Serial No. 261,902. (No model.)

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. LA BoRDE, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful lm 'n'ovements in Shoe-Sole-Splitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to provide a machine for splitting the heel portions of the soles of shoes for the application of a re-enforcing lift of material to form a spring-heel for childrens shoes, though equally applicable for splitting leather for any purpose desired; and it consists in a machine, hereinafter described, for carrying out said objects in an lll'llJIOYQtl manner, the novel features of which will be particularly mentioned in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, showing a shoe upon the supporting-jack. Fig. '3 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a sectional view on the line a: a; of Fig. 2, with the shoe in position immediately at the conclusion of the cutting operation and before removal; and Fig. 4, a similar view at the beginning of the cutting operation; Fig. 5, a sectional view showing the adjustable crank-pin connection on the main shaft. Fig. (5 is a view of the shoe after-being cut, with the flap turned up. Fig. 7 is afront elevation of the cutting-knife and its support.

Similar letters oi. reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The machine consists of a suitable base portion, A, preferably constructed of metal, with the dovetail guides 15 B cast or formed thereon, and with an extension at right'angles thereto, upon which is mounted and secured a suitable standard, (3, though the latter may be formed integral with the base, if desired. This standard has near its upper portion a transverse shaft, I), preferably parallel with the guides or ways in the base, mounted in suitable bearings, and provided at one end with a belt-pulley, E, and at the other with a disk, F, upon which is secured a suitable crankpin, G, preferably adj nstable toward and from its center, to adjust its throw in the following manner: The disk is provided with a radial slot, F, as in Fig. 5, having flanges at the side,

within which is placed a sliding block, W, extending beneath the before-mentioned flanges and provided with a collar or extension, j", projecting between the same, as shown, and squared for preventing rotation by engaging the flanges. The block has a threaded aperture, into which the reduced and threaded end of the pin G screws, the latter being enlarged to form a bearing for the end of the pitman II, connected to the reciprocatillg knife, as presently explained.

Between the pitnian and block F a washer, f, is placed, while the head of the pin is enlarged. The crank-pin, being inserted through the bearing in the pitman and the washer, is screwed into the block and tightened, the shoulder formed at the end of the radial portion clamping the block, washer, and flanges of the slot together, the adjustment of the position of the block in the slot being accon1- plished by loosening the pin, moving it to the position desired, and retightening it, as will be readily understood. The end of the pitman H, which has its bearing on the pin G, is split and provided. with the ad j Listing-screw z to compensate for wear.

On the side of the standard toward the guides is secured a bracket, 1, held in posi tion by bolts 1' 1', and provided with aprojecting segmental flange, I, with a recess, 1 in its under side, as shown, for the accommodation of the knife-carrier J, and, further, with preferably three vertical slots, 1 i and i entering the recess P. The carrierJ consists of a segmental bloc-k formed to accurately fit the recess I and on its upper side is secured a short standard, J, having a threaded perforation in its upper end, into which passes the end of a pin, K, forming a bearing for the inner end of the pitman H, which latter is provided with a split bearing similar to the one at the other end, a washer, 71., being provided between the shoulder on the pin and the standard J for securing the pin when screwed in.

The carrier is supported and held in the slot I by means of screws 3' passed down through plates K K, (with which their heads engage,) the slots i 27 in the flange I, and entering the carrier, the under side of said plates being curved to correspond with the upper side of the flange and having a suitable bearing thereon.

Other means could readily be devised for holding the knife-carrier in position, as lugs projecting from the sides of the recess; but that described is preferred.

L represents the cutting-knife, consisting of a thin blade having the flat portions Z Zat the ends engaging suit-able flat offsets, ZZ, on the carrier and secured thereto by bolts 1 Z passing through them and entering the carrier, suitable washers being placed between the head and knife, as shown. The offsets at the ends provide a convenient mode of securing the knife without the necessity of operating a screw on a curved surface. The curve of the knife is precisely that of the carrier and its guides, so that when reciprocated its edge will travel precisely parallel with the guides and a smooth cut will be made.

From the above it will be seen that when the shaft D is rapidly rotated by a belt or any suitable mechanism the knife-carrier J 2 and knife will be reciprocated in a curve and transversely to the ways B in the base, and the length of the reciprocation andthe rapidity can be easily adjusted by moving the crank-pin D nearer to or farther from the center of the shaft, as described.

On the front of the flange I and preferably near the center, is a gage, M, curved as shown, provided with a suitable under side sloping slightly toward the rear, secured to the flange, and adapted to be adjusted, if desired, by the screws in on, passing through suitable elongated slots, on on, and entering the flange, as shown. The lower side of the gage is slightly abox e the line of travel of the knife, this difference fixing the depth of the cut of the knife when the shoe-sole or material being cut is pressed against it.

Just in rear of the bracket in which the' knife is supported is another bracket, M, having a perforation, in which is mounted an adjustable stop, M adapted to be held in adjusted position by means of a screw, m and against'which the shoe on the jack strikes to limit the length of the cut, as will be de scribed.

Mounted in the ways B in the base and arranged to slide therein is the carriage N, carrying what I term the jack, on which the lasted shoe to be operated upon is placed. This jack is constructed of a right-angled casting, 0 O pivoted at 0 between vertical projections N N on the base of the carriage, and its upwardly-projecting portion 0 is provided with socket 0 while over this socketed portion is slipped a recessed last-support, P, a suitable spring, P, being interposed between, while a screw-pin, 29, passing through a slot, 1), in the latter, enters the portion 0 and prevents its being forced off by the spring. On the upper end of the support P is a projection, 12 for entering the hole in last Q, placed upon and carrying the shoe Q to be operated upon. Any suitable arrangement might be made for forcing the last-support upward in a direction toward the knife, as the lower portion of the jack need notbe recessed for the spring, or the upper portion might fit within it and the pin pass through a slot in the lower portion and enter the upper portion. I prefer the arrangement shown and described for convenience of construction and ease of manipulation. The horizontal extension 0 of the jack, as it performs only the office of a stop to limit its forward motion when tilted, might be dispensed with and any other suitable stop located upon the carriage to engage the verticalportion 0 be provided.

It is desirable that some form of clamping device be employed to hold the lasted shoe while being acted upon, and I prefer to employ the one shown, and which I will now describe.

The front of the last-support P has formed upon or secured to it two laterally-projecting lugs, r r, on either side the center in pairs, between each pair of which is pivoted at '2' an arm or lever, R R, said levers being bifurcated at their lower ends and at their upper provided with the angular rearward extensions, R R, adapted to engage the sides of the lasted shoe, in 1, and when adjusted, as farther on described, to have a firm bearing thereon. The rearward extensions of the levers are advantageous, as they enable me to clamp the shoe and last near the point of support on the jack, while the levers project very little at the sides, making a compact construction. ()n the forward side of support P, below the lu s T1", is a central web or flange, .9, adapted to partially embrace and form a bearing for a transverse screw, S, with a milled head, T, passed loosely through the ends of the clampingdevers R R and provided with right and left screw-threads, which engage correspondingly threaded nuts S S, mounted upon it and between the bifurcations in the levers, said rib s preventing longitudinal movement of the screwby engaging a slot, 8', therein.

It will readily be seen that upon the rotation of the screw to the right or left the nuts will be separated and the upper engaging ends of the levers R brought together, clamping the shoe-last tightly between them, and that upon a reverse movement they will be separated and the lasted shoe can be removed.

Other clamping devices that would acconr plish the purpose could be employed; but it will be noted that by the present construction the motion of the levers on the pivots does not interfere with the operation of the screw, and this by reason of the loose nuts between the bifurcated ends.

The carriage is capable of sliding in the ways in the base toward and from the knife, while the jack can be moved on its pivot, the forward motion being limited by the extension 0 while that toward the rear is limited by the shoulder formed at the top of the reduced portion striking against the tops of the arms N N on the carriage or by any other suitable form of stop.

The construction of the various parts having been specified, the operations and capabilities of the machine will now be described.

The shaft 1) is connected by a belt passing around the wheel E with any suitable prime mover and rapidly rotated, causing the knife to be rapidly reciprocated, the edge of the latter moving in a segmental path concentric with the lower side of guide M and at a distance therefrom determined by the vertical adjustment of the latter. The shoe, prefera- -bl y a childs turned shoe, to be operated upon is secured upon a suitable last, Q, and the lat ter placed in position upon the support with the heel portion toward the rear or knife end of the machine, the carriage being drawn forward to the position indicated in Fig. 2. The wheel T now rotated, so as to cause the separation of the lower ends of clamping-levers R R by the right and left threads 011 the screw and the nuts between the bifurcated ends, causing the portions R R to securely clamp the shoe to the lastand the latter immovably upon the support, as will be readily under stood, preventing movement independent thereof. The operator now tilts the shoe and support forward to a position with the stop 0 against the base, pushes the shoe and last down against the tension of spring P, and slides the carriage backward in its guides;

' ing carriage for the jack a stationary one with the rear of the heel under the gage M and the rear edge of the sole just touching the knife, indicated in Fig. 4, and the spring keeping the bottom of the sole against the 5 gage, as will be readily understood.

He now i pushes the shoe backward, the carriage re- 1 maining stationary and the jack turning on its pivot on the carriage, causing the rapidlyreciprocating knife to split the sole longitudinally, the thickness of the outer portion being determined by the distance between the bottom of the and the edge of the knife, and the separated portions passing over the knife and between it and the slide J outv of erator simply tilts the jack forward again, slides the carriage back, and substitutes another shoe for the one just operated upon.

Now it will be noted that the heel portion of the ordinary shoe is slightly curved transversely, caused by the shape of the last and by the finishing of the sole, and also that it is rounded from rear to the hollow or inner end of the heel portion. Consequently a straight out would separate a flap of uneven thickness, being much thinner at the edges than at the center and thicker at the rear portion than the hollow, while a continued. movementwould separate the flap entirely; but in the apparatus described, in the first place, a curved knife is employed that corresponds approximately with the transverse curve of the heel portion of the sole, while the curved motion given the shoe by the tilting jack corresponds to the curve toward the hollow. This last curve is a long one, being an arc of a circle with the pivot of the jack as the center, the length being determined by the position of the stops and M and the cutting-edge of the knife. These two curves given the out are quite valuable in cutting slits to form spring-heels for childrens shoes, as the re-enforce or extra lift, adapted to be placed inthe cut made and secured by fastening down the flap, need not be made curving or higher at the center, but can be cut out with an ordinary lift-cutter or by hand, and of equal thickness throughout, the curve 011 which the cut is made imparting the desirable curve and finish to the sole.

The spring holding the shoe against the gage, and the latter being adjustable, the thickness of the loose flap can be readily determined, and the operations necessary are governed by gages and stops, so that an unskilled operator can readily use the machine.

It will be understood that I do not desire to confine myself to splitting shoe-soles by this machine, nor to the precise constructions of parts, as leather or other material can equally well be operated upon, and instead of slidcould be employed, though I prefer the movable one, for the reason that the placing and removal of the shoe can be better performed at a greater distance from the knife and gage. Still there would be no danger from the former, as the overhanging tlan and gage form an effectual guard, preventing the accidental contact of anything with the knife.

As is obvious, the whole machine may be inverted and the knife made to operate below the shoe, the base being in this instance secured to the opposite end of the standard The machine as a whole is simple in construct-ion and easily operated by an operator, who need not be particularly skillful, and by the adjustability of the various parts is adapted to operate upon shoes of different sizes and shapes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is l. The combination herein described, with the longitudinally-moving cutting-blade, of a gage arranged in proximity thereto, a work- IIO support and a spring for holding the work and gage in contact, and a carriage for the support movable toward and from the knife, substantially as described.

2. The combination herein described, with a longitudinal]y-moving cutting-blade and a gage arranged in proximity thereto, of a pivoted support to which the work is secured, arranged to be vibrated toward and from the knife, mounted upon a center parallel with the line of movement of the knife, and a spring for holding the work against he gage, substantially as described.

The combination herein describethwith a longitudinall y-movin g cutting-blade, of a pivoted support to which the work is secured, arranged to be vibrated toward and from the knife, mounted upon a center parallel with the line of movement of the knife, substantially as described.

4. The combination herein described, with a longitudinally-moving cutting-blade, of a pivoted support to which the work is secured, arranged to be vibrated toward and from the knife upon a center parallel with the line of movement of the knife, a gage for limiting the movement of the worksupport transversely to the cutting-edge of the knife, and a spring for holding the work-support against said gage, substantially as described.

5. The combination herein described, with the longitudinally-moving cutting-knife and guides for causing it to move in the arc of a circle, of a pivoted work-support mounted on V a centerparallel with the line of movementof the knife, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the longitndinally-moving cutting-knife and guides for.

causing it to move in the arc of a circle, of a pivoted worksupport mounted on center parallel with the line of 'movement of the knife and a stop for limiting the forward movement of the work-support on its'center, substantially described.

7. The combination, with the reciprocating segmental cutting-knife and a gage arranged in proximity thereto, of a work-support pivoted on a center parallel with the direction of movement of the knife, a spring for holding the work against the gage, and a stop forlimitin g the backward movement of the support on its pivot, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the reciprocating segmental cutting-knife, of the sliding carriage, the pivoted last-jack mounted thereon, the spring interposed in said jack for pressing one section toward the knife, a gage for limiting the movement of the jack when pressed against it by the spring, and a stop for limiting the movement of the jack in the direction of the cut, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the reciprocating segmental cutting-knife, the carriage on which it is mounted, guided in segmental ways, the rotary shaft and pitman connected to the knife-carriage, and the gage arranged in proximity to the cutting-edge of the knife, of the pivoted spring-jack, the last supported thereon, the stop at the rear with which the last engages, and the clamp mounted on the jack for securing the work and last in position thereon, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the movable carriage carrying a tool for operating on the work, of a work-supporting jack composed of two telescopic sections, the spring interposed between them, the two pivoted jaws mounted on one of the sections forming a clamp, and a screw for causing their movements to clamp the work, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the movable carriage carrying a tool for operating on the work, of a work supporting jack and the work-clamp mounted thereon, consisting of the two pivoted jaws having the bifurcated ends, the nuts between said bifurcated portions, and the right-and-left screw engaging said nuts, substantially as described.

' 12. The combination, with the-movable carriage carrying a tool for operating on the work, of the work-supporting jack, the bearings formed on opposite sides thereof, the pivoted levers mounted thereon having the rearward extension at the upper ends, and means for separating their lower ends to cause the upper ones to clamp the work, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the standard, the lateral flange having the segmental recess in its under side, and the slots therein, of the sliding segmental block mounted in the recess and adapted to reciprocate therein, an operating-tool carried by said block, the segmental plates mounted on top of the flange, the screws securing them to the block through the slots, and the pitman secured to the block and means for reciprocating it, substantially as described.

14. In a leather-cutting machine, substantially as described, the combination, withthe standard, the flange having the segmental-recess, the block moving in said recess, and the segmental knife secured thereto, of the gage secured to the flange and projecting in proximity to the knife, as set forth. V

15. The combination, with the reciprocating segmental knife and gage placed in proximity thereto for limiting the depth of cut, of a pivoted telescopic jack consisting of the lower section having the extension adapted to co-operate with the base and form a stop limiting the forward movement of the jack and the upper section arranged to carry a last and shoe thereon, a spring interposed'between the sections, a clamp for the shoe and last,

and a stop at the rear for limiting the movement of the latter, substantially as described.

16. The combination, with the reciprocating segmental knife and gage placed in proximity thereto for limiting the depth of cut, of a carriage movin in ways toward the cutting- IIO edge of the knife, a pix'oted telescopic jack sections, a clamp for the shoe and last, and a mounted thereon, consisting of the lower seestop at the rear for limiting the movement of non having the extensions adapted to eo-opthe latter, substantially as described.

erate with the base and form a stop limiting J AS. F. LA BORDE. 5 the forward movement of the jack and the Vitnesses:

upper section arranged to carry a last and CHAS. B. ERNST,

shoe thereon, a spring interposed between the HARRY M. FAIRMAN. 

